Shaman's Apprentice (1980) - Shaman's Apprentice Visionary (1981) by Norval Morrisseau

Shaman's Apprentice Visionary
Print Version (1981) 22" x 30" - from the original painting - 8' x 5' (1980)
Norval Morrisseau

The authentic Morrisseau painting is entitled, “Shaman’s Apprentice”. This portrait was painted by Morrisseau to honour Stardreamer who painted the blue background wash on the original that Norval filled with Stars and Thunderbirds.

My so-called Indian followers haven't reached a stage yet where they know what colour is. They think its nice to see Norval putting on colour but do they know what those colours mean?

One day you go up into a separate reality and you see what sickness is. Its a mental disease that makes us forget what the hell we really are - that's the sickness that has happened. There is a big crystal that is the most modern medicine - a circle of colours that directs a different colour to each spot of disease.
Norval Morrisseau
1984 NOW magazine

View a comparison of this painting with one created by someone who used the poster as a guide.

The painting itself is approximately 8ft x 5ft. It was painted in 1980 and then printed by Albert Volpe of Alvo Art in 1981 on approx. 22" x 30" heavy gauge hand-made rag paper using a revolutionary printing technique. The limited edition print is entitled,“Shaman’s Apprentice Visionary”.

The prints from this collection and the original paintings from this period ended up, for the most part, in Europe.

A poster promoting the “Sylvan Image Collection” at Ontario Place in Toronto from May 10 to June 2, 1984, was published soon after his major group Exhibition, "Norval Morrisseau and the Emergence of the Image Makers" was held at the Art Gallery of Ontario.